Eternal Life

Happy Easter to you all. I've been thinking much about the meaning of Easter this season. My beloved grandpa passed away a month ago, and it's so hard to think about how he's no longer here with us.

I went home to Texas last weekend for his memorial service. He was a minister of music, directing church choirs all over (including a 6 month tour of Africa), and it was so special to be able to hear his voice from a recording with one of his choirs in Dallas many years ago. 

A family friend spoke of one of my favorite memories of him -- how at Texas Rangers games, everyone within hearing distance to our seats would turn around in wonder as he unabashedly belted out the Star Spangled Banner in his rich baritone voice. One of the ministers then told a story that I hadn't heard before -- that it's tradition in their church to sing the Hallelujah Chorus at the end of the Easter service, and members are invited to come up and join the choir in singing it. He said he'll never forget how last year he watched my grandfather, 91 years young last Easter, immediately get up and make his way down the aisle with a determined look in his face to join the baritone section to sing those words of joy.

Easter holds the promise of eternal life, and I'm thankful for that reminder. I know Grandpa was with a new choir today, singing the Hallelujah Chorus.